Texas History

"It's like a whole other country" is the slogan used by the Texas tourism office, and for 9 years it was indeed an independent republic. The second largest state in the U.S. both in terms of area and population, Texas boasts a legendary history befitting its size.

A vast, untamed territory claimed consecutively by France (1685), Spain (1690), and Mexico (1821), Texas won independence from Mexico in 1836 after a six-month revolt in which the severely outnumbered "Texans" - led by Sam Houston of Tennessee - rebounded from defeat at the Alamo to prevail over the forces of General Santa Anna. Just 16 years after its admission to the U.S. in 1845, Texas seceded from the Union to join the Confederacy, but was readmitted in 1870. In less than 200 years since European settlement, six different flags flew over Texas, symbolizing its glorious and volatile history and inspiring a themed amusement park near Dallas. In true Texas fashion, Six Flags is now the world's largest amusement park chain.

TX Climate and Geographic Information

Because of its size and location, the Texas climate and topography defies easy characterization. From great plains and canyons in the panhandle, to sandy beaches, bayous and the Piney Woods in the east, to high desert and mountains in the west and rolling hills in the center, Texas has a little of everything. The Lone Star State, second only to California in agricultural output, makes the most of these variations to produce everything from cotton, wheat, citrus fruits, spinach and watermelon, and the state leads the U.S. in ranching of beef cattle and sheep. Perennially the nation's leading producer of refined petroleum, Texas sits atop approximately 30% of oil reserves in the U.S., as well as the largest onshore natural gas field in the world near Fort Worth.

Texas Economy and Demographics Information

But the TX economy has diversified since World War II. The state famous for cowboys and armadillos is increasingly urbanized: more than half the population resides in the Dallas and Houston metro areas, and Texas is the only state with three cities among the nation's 10 largest. Elite industries are supplanting oil and ranching as the economy grows. High technology and aerospace manufacturers including General Dynamics, Bell Helicopter, Texas Instruments and Electronic Data Systems dominate the Dallas area, while Houston, the busiest international port in the country, is also home to the prestigious Texas Medical Center, the world's largest concentration of research and healthcare and research institutions. Hip and trendy Austin, the state capital, claims the most per capita live music venues in the U.S., and has emerged as the new scene for filmmaking as well.

Texas Real Estate Information

Despite its prosperous economy and tremendous growth in recent years - Texas' population increased 22% from 1990 to 2000, bumping it to #2 ahead of New York - real estate prices in Texas during the last decade have remained stable and relatively affordable. Among the four largest cities, only Austin, a hot market in the scenic Hill Country, has a median home value ($170,000) above the U.S. median, while home prices in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio were significantly lower.